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"Everything I have purchased from zZounds has been received in factory sealed boxes, packed inside a second larger box, and shipped by Fed Ex, who doesn't bang up your goods. " Customer on November 13, 2016

Buying Guide: Professional Live Sound Rigs

Building a professional live sound rig isn't just a matter of size and wattage. What sets a live sound rig above the rest is features that make it easier for audiences to connect with the music. While higher-end gear usually does offer more floor-shaking potential, the real benefit comes from the additional versatility and control this gear offers.

Designed with the gigging engineer in mind, this guide features gear that's made to make your shows easier, anticipate the common problems you run into during a show, and provide built-in solutions.

Powered Loudspeakers

There are many factors to consider when picking out a quality speaker that's right for you. Planning on running your PA every night? Invest in dependable speakers that were designed to work in a wide range of applications, and last for years. If you want to ensure that the whole crowd hears a consistent mix in a large venue, look for speakers that offer high SPL with a good signal-to-noise ratio. You'll also want to choose a pair of speakers with a wide coverage angle -- or group multiple narrower-pattern speakers into a cluster or line array that can cover your whole audience. If you're looking for speakers that can handle a host of different genres and dynamics, look for speakers with a wide frequency range and built-in DSP that protects against clipping.

A show sticks with the audience longer when they can feel it. While all subwoofers are made to add a fuller low end, quality subwoofers offer much more than that. They add a musical and articulate feel to your sound, so you get a deep bass response, without muddying or distracting from your mix.

Microphones are the first step in your signal chain -- so don't let substandard wireless systems ruin a great show. Digital wireless systems give you clearer sound, fewer dropouts, and a quicker setup process -- so you can have confidence in your wireless setup, especially when you're running multiple simultaneous channels. If you're already running an analog wireless system, digital systems make it easy to expand your wireless system without the risk of interference.

Control the stage and minimize your scramble to get everything ready between sets with a digital mixer. Save individual presets for every band during soundcheck, and instantly recall them when they take the stage, so you can let them plug in and start rocking. Thanks to digital mixers' flexible signal routing, even if there's a last-minute change in the signal chain, you can quickly adapt to it. With their on-board effects and signal processing, you're less dependent on outboard gear to get the sonic characteristics you're looking for, which means easier setup and a smaller footprint. Have a band asking for a recording of their set? Plug any of these digital mixers directly into your computer via a single cable and start tracking -- no separate interface required.

Modern digital mixers give engineers the freedom to move around the venue while remote-controlling settings wirelessly from a laptop, iPad, tablet or smartphone. If you prefer not to be tethered to a console when you mix, a rackmounted digital mixer is a great solution. The rackmount unit serves as the "brain" of the system, while your tablet's screen replaces physical faders and knobs.

A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.

A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.

1. zZounds offers the industry‘s most musician-friendly payment plans

zZounds offers a variety of Play as You Pay installment plans that allow you to get the gear you want today. While our competitors might offer house credit cards that require you to fill out an application and pass a credit check, our payment plans are easy to get, simple to use, and, best of all, accrue zero interest. Unlike those house credit cards that can leave you vulnerable to exorbitant interest charges once the promotional period ends, we never have and never will charge interest when you take advantage of one of the zZounds Play as You Pay plans.

2. zZounds guarantees the lowest price

Seen it for less somewhere else? Get it for less at zZounds. Simply click the “Seen it for less?” link on any product page and as long as we‘re not losing money, we‘ll beat any legitimate competitor‘s lowest price, usually within two hours. Want our best price even faster? Call us at 800-zZounds (800-996-8637), and we‘ll provide you with a lower price on the phone. Also, if you purchase from us and later find the product for less elsewhere, call or email us within 45 days, and we‘ll refund you the difference.

3. Nobody Beats zZounds‘ Fast & Free Shipping

At zZounds, we know you want your gear fast, and shipped to you free of charge. That‘s why we have absolutely free ground shipping on every single order shipped within the continental United States. This includes heavy and oversized items. No minimum purchase required. No exclusions. We also ship over 90% of our orders with FREE 2-day shipping. We pull it all off with our strategically placed, coast-to-coast warehouses.

4. zZounds makes returns super easy

Buy it, try it, like it, or return it to us for a full refund. It‘s just that simple. If you‘re not in love with what you bought, return it to zZounds within 45 days, and we‘ll promptly arrange for an exchange or a refund. No hassles. No hidden charges. And if a product‘s defective or damaged, call us at 800-zZounds (800-996-8637), and we‘ll email you a prepaid shipping label so you can easily return it to us at zero cost to you.

5. zZounds delivers top-rated customer service

zZounds has received multiple Bizrate® Circle of Excellence Platinum awards, placing us in the top 0.7 percent of Bizrate‘s network of 5,200 retailers. Our success in meeting the needs of our customers -- since 1996, we‘ve satisfied over 1,000,000 people -- is due in large part to the fact that zZounds only hires experienced musicians to answer your calls and emails, and they are never paid a commission.